Cricket: Doctrove omitted from Champions Trophy umpires panel

Billy Doctrove

NEW DELHI - West Indies' umpire Billy Doctrove has been omitted from the list of officials for the ICC Champions Trophy starting in India on Saturday.

Doctrove and Australia's Darrell Hair were at the centre of the row which led to Pakistan forfeiting the fourth test against England at The Oval in August.

Pakistan refused to take the field after tea on the fourth day after Doctrove and Hair penalised them five runs for alleged ball-tampering.

An International Cricket Council hearing last month cleared Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq of ball-tampering and the ICC then announced that Hair would not be standing in the Champions Trophy for security and safety reasons.

New Zealand's Billy Bowden has been included and will officiate Australia's match against England.

In a statement on Thursday the ICC said eight of its 10-man elite umpires panel would stand in the tournament.

An ICC spokesman said Doctrove's absence had nothing to do with the controversy.

"Don't read anything into Billy Doctrove's absence," he said, adding it was easier to rotate eight umpires.

- REUTERS